PEACE RIVER, AB, October 11, 2024 /CNW/ – Canadians value a safe and clean environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada law enforcement officers work to ensure that businesses and individuals comply with laws and regulations that protect the natural environment in Canada.

On October 11, 2024At Alberta Court of Justice, Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd. (Mercer Peace River) was ordered to pay a 1 million dollars fine after pleading guilty September 4, 2024to one count of violation of the Fisheries Act. The charge follows an investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada law enforcement officers which determined that April 14, 2021Mercer Peace River deposited or permitted the discharge of 30,868,000 liters of extremely lethal (toxic) fish effluent (wastewater) from its pulp mill located near the Town of Peace River, Albertain the Peace River. The discharge of extremely lethal effluent into fish-bearing waters contravenes a condition of the effluent discharge authorization set out in subsection 6(5) of the Act. Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulationscontrary to subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act.

The pulp mill operates a wastewater treatment system that treats effluent before it is released into the Peace River. The wastewater treatment system has a spill basin designed to capture and store effluent resulting from spills or unusual operating conditions. Once in the discharge basin, the effluent is gradually reintroduced into the treatment system at a controlled rate to minimize its overall negative effect.

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s investigation determined that the violation occurred during a maintenance shutdown at the pulp mill. The shutdown generated waste from the treatment tanks and wastewater from cleaning operations that was directed to the discharge basin. Mercier Peace River had not maintained sufficient capacity in the discharge basin to capture the additional effluent. As a result, the spill basin did not function as intended. The investigation determined that the reduced capacity of the spill basin contributed to the violation. Mercier Peace River has since taken steps to increase the capacity of the discharge basin by removing sludge and improving the associated pumping system.

The fine will be paid to the government of of Canada Environmental Damage Fund.

Following this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Register of Environmental Offenders. The Register contains information on convictions of registered companies for offenses committed under certain federal environmental laws.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free subscription service to help Canadians stay up to date with what the Government of Canada made to protect the natural environment.

Quick facts

• Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the pollution prevention provisions of Fisheries Act.

• A key provision of the pollution prevention provisions is subsection 36(3), which prohibits the deposit of harmful substances in waters frequented by fish, or in any place where they may enter waters frequented by fish.

• THE Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations were developed under the Fisheries Act manage threats of impaired water quality to fish, fish habitat and human health due to fish consumption. They limit the discharge of harmful substances into fish-bearing waters by pulp and paper mills and prohibit the discharge of effluents which are extremely deadly for fish.

• THE Peace River is a body of water frequented by several species of fish, including monkfish, northern pike, mountain whitefish and walleye.

• Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a government Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund directs money from fines, penalties, court orders and voluntary payments to projects that will repair environmental damage or benefit the environment. The Fund aims to invest in areas where environmental damage has been caused.

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2024/11/c4847.html